Acoustical earpiece for air-push sound systems

ABSTRACT

An acoustical earpiece having two cups connected by a headstrap and lined with acoustically transparent foam, the cups having plug-in sockets in their sides tightly receiving the ends of the two tubes of an earphone of an air-push sound system after removal of the standard ear cushions thereof.

United States Patent [191 Crenna May 14, 1974 [54] ACOUSTI'CAL EARPIECEFOR AIR-PUSH 3,051,961 9/1962 Clark 181/23 SOUND'SYSTEMS 3,580,9885/1971 Orlowski et a1 181/31 R Inventor: Richard D. Crenna, 3951 ValleyMeadow Rd., Encino, Calif. 91316 Filed: July 26,- 1972 Appl. No.:275,285

[1.8. C]. 181/23, 181/31 R, 179/182 R Int. Cl G02k 13/00, H04r 25/00Field of Search 181/23, 24, 31 R, 31 B;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1952 Kindel 181/23 PrimaryExaminer-Stephen J. Tomsky [57] ABSTRACT An acoustical earpiece havingtwo cups connected by a headstrap and lined with acousticallytransparent foam, the cups having plug-in sockets in their sides tightlyreceiving the ends of the two tubes of an earphone of an air-push soundsystem after removal of the standard ear cushions thereof.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to acoustical earpieces, and has particular reference to theacoustical earpieces for use with conventional sound systems of theso-called air-push type presently used in commercial transportationsystems such as commercial airlines.

In such systems, the practice is to provide the passengers withindividual earphones in the form of tubular connectors having input endswhich plug into consoles conveniently located near the seats, and outputends which deliver sound waves from the console to the ears of alistener. The input ends are attached to a suitable plug-in fitting, andreplaceable ear cushions are provided on the output ends to fit into thelisteners ears.

Such ear cushions are intended to'assist in retaining the earphones in.place, and to reduce the discomfort associated with their use. Thecushions that have been used have included soft rubber earplugs telescoped over the ends of the tubes and having openings for admitting soundwaves out of the plugs inside the ears, and annular foam cushionsinsertible in the ears. Such cushions are inexpensive enough to bedisposable after use, permitting replacement for hygienic purposes priorto reuse of the earphones.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention resides in an improvedacoustical earpiece assembly for such air-push sound systems, whichgreatly increases the comfort of the listener using the sound system,and also improves the quality of the sound received, as compared to theearphones that now are in use. Moreover, the improved earpiece may bemass-produced at a cost that is low enough to make the improved serviceavailable to passengers, or to sell as personal property to those whotravel extensively.

More specifically, the improved earpiece comprises a pair of open-sided,hollow cups that'are joined together to overlie the ears of thelistener, and each having a socket generally opposite the open side ofthe cup for receiving the output end of one of the tubes with a snugfit, the preferred socket being formed by a resiliently compressiblegrommet fitted in an opening in the side of the cup. Thus, the socketsprovide releasable plug-in connections for thetubes, and are sized toprovide acoustical seals around the tubes for optimum sound-wavetransmission. One size of grommet will accommodate a range of sizes oftubes, and different sizes of grommets may be provided for differentsituations.

The hollow cups not only are more comfortable than ear cushions, butalso provide sounding chambers around the ears, through which the soundwaves are delivered to the listener, thus enhancing the quality of thesound. For even higher quality, a lining of acoustically transparentfoam is provided in each cup, for the dispersion of the waves in thechamber.

Accordingly, the improved earpiece can be used with the same soundsystems that presently are in use, thus eliminating in a practicalmanner the sources of the primary objections to such systems that havearisen, and that have not yet been satisfactorily resolved.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of animproved acoustical earpiece assembly embodying the novel features ofthe present invention, shown in combination with part of a conventionalearphone and in place on a listener shown in outline form; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of parts of the earpiece assemblyof FIG. 1, shown partly in side elevation and partly in cross-section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown in the drawings for purposes ofillustration, the invention is embodied in an acoustical earpieceassembly, indicated generally by the reference number 10 in thedrawings, for use with an airpush sound system in which sound waves aredelivered to the listener 11 through a pair of elongated flexible tubes12 and 13 that are joined together to form an earphone 14. Such tubesare standard parts of the various earphones presently in use, havinginput ends (not shown) for connection to a source of sound waves such asa transducer in a console adjacent the seat in a plane, and separatedoutput end portions 15 for extending to the ears of the listener. Thetubes usually are joined together by a lanyard 17, or in some otherfashion, to extend in side-byside relation from beneath the listenerschin to the console.

In accordance with the present invention, the improved earpiece assembly10 comprises a pair of cups l8 and 19 sized to fit over the listenersears and joined together in a headset unit by a U-shaped headstrap 20for supporting the cups comfortably in the proper listening position.Each cup has a socket 21 in one side generally opposite the ear of thelistener when the cup is in place, each socket receiving the free endportion 15 of one of the tubes 12, 13 to connect the tube to theearpiece and admit the sound waves from the tube into the cup.

The illustrative headstrap 20 comprises two preshaped, flexible piecesof spring metal, plastic or the like having overlapping ends which areslidably received in a sheath 22. This permits the headstrap to belengthened or shortened as may be necessary to fit different people. Thefree ends of the headstrap are suitably connected to the cups l8, 19,for example, by U- shaped yokes 23 having pivots 24 (FIG. 2) on theirends fitting rotatably in a pair of oppositely opening, coaxiallyaligned recesses in the cup. Each cup l8, 19 is large enough tocomfortably overlie the listeners ear, and preferably has an annular earcushion 25 for engaging the listener. For this purpose, each cup isshown as having an outside peripheral flange 27 which constitutes therim of the cup, and the ear cushions 25 are simply rings of foammaterial having internal grooves which receive the flanges 27. The cupsmay be composed of metal, plastic, or other suitable material, plasticbeing preferred for low cost.

To form the sockets 21, the cups are formed with openings 28 in theportions generally opposite the open sides, the openings beingsubstantially larger than the cross-sectional size of the ends 15 of thetubes 12 and l3, and grommets 29 composed of resiliently compressiblematerial such as rubber are secured to the cups in the openings. Thesegrommets have through passages which are sized to receive the ends ofthe tubes, as shown in FIG. 2, and to hold the tubes releasably on theearpiece 10, the through passages forming the sockets 21.

Herein, the openings 28 are circular, and the grommets 29 are generallycylindrical and larger in outside diameter than the openings, eachhaving a peripheral groove 29a'interfitting with the wall of the cuparound the associated opening. Thus, the grommets are semi permanentlymounted on the cups, and may be sized to receive the ends of the tubes12 and 13 with tight, interference fits forming acoustical seals.

Although the grommets 29 may be placed in various positions in the cupsl8 and 19, the illustrative cups are formed with outwardly offsetportions 30 having substantially planar walls that are inclineddownwardly and inwardly from approximately midway between the upper andlower sides of the cups, and the grommets are mounted in these walls.When the ends of the tubes are in place, they extend outwardly and areinclined downwardly to some extent, thereby reducing the angle of thebend as the tubes turn and extend inwardly and toward the lanyard 17, Atthe same time, this configuration assists in holding the tubescomfortably away from the face and neck of the listener. If it should bedesired to attach such earphones permanently to an earpiece assembly 10,the sockets can be permanent connections, instead of releasableconnections.

It' will be apparent that the interiors of the cups 18 and l9.formsounding chambers for the sound waves delivered through the tubes 12 and13. This substantially'enhances the quality of the sound, as compared tothe sound quality obtained with prior earphones in this type of system.For even higher quality, a lining 31 of acoustically transparent foammaterial (that is, foam material ofone of the commercially availabletypes that passes sound waves through the material to a relatively highdegree) is applied to the inner side of each cup, to disperse soundwaves within the chambers. This material preferably is applied in sheetform to the entire interior of each cup, and conforms to the curvatureof the cup, as shown in FIG. 2. A thickness of about one-half inch issuitable.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present inventionprovides a relatively simple and inexpensive earpiece assembly forexisting air-push sound systems, that is readily attachable to thetubular earphones presently in use, after removal of the ear cushionsthat presently are provided on such earphones. Accordingly, the improvedearpiece can be supplied to passengers with earphones from which the earcushions have been removed, or can be carried as personal property by atraveller who wishes to avoid the discomfort of such earphones and toenjoy the higher quality of sound available with the improved earpiece.Such a traveller can remove the standard ear cushions and simply plugthe tubes into his earpiece.

It also will be apparent that, while a specific embodiment has beenillustrated and described, various modifications and changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a conventional tubular earphone comprising twoelongated flexible tubes having input ends for connection to a soundsystem for generating sound waves, and separated output end portions ofa predetermined approximate size customarily equipped with detachableear cushions for fitting into the ears of a listener to deliver thesound waves to the listener, an improved acoustical earpiece assembly,comprising:

a pair of open-sided hollow cups sized to overlie the ears of thelistener and each having an opening generally opposite the open side ofthe cup and substantially larger than the cross-sectional size of saidoutput end portions;

a U-shaped headstrap connected at its ends to said cups to extend aroundthe head of the listener and hold the cups over the ears;

and grommets of resiliently compressible material fitted snugly in saidopenings and defining through passages into the interior of the cup,said through passages being sized to receive output end portions of saidpredetermined approximate size with a tight fit and to frictionallyretain said output end portions removably in said grommets whileproviding acoustical seals around said output end portions, whereby thecustomary ear cushions may be removed from said earphone and the lattermay be plugged into said earpiece to increase the comfort of thelistener and improve the quality of the sound.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 further including a lining ofacoustically transparent foam material in each of said cups overlyingsaid opening and said through passage.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 in which said linings are sheetfoam material in cup-shaped form generally conforming to the shape ofthe interiors of the cups.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 in which each grommet is agenerally cylindrical insert having a peripheral groove interfittingwith said cup around said opening.

5. The combination defined in claim 1 in which each cup has an outwardlyoffset portion with a substantially planar wall that is inclineddownwardly and inwardly when the earpiece is in place, said openingsbeing in said walls and said through passage being positioned to receivesaid output end portions in outwardly and downwardly inclined positions.

6. For use with a tubular earphone having an input end for connection toa sound system for generating sound waves, and an output end portion fordelivering such sound waves to a listener, said output end portioncomprising two relatively flexible tubes for extending to the ears ofthe listener, an improved acoustical earpiece assembly comprising:

a pair of open-sided, hollow cups sized to overlie the ears of thelistener;

means joining said cups together as a headset unit for supporting thecups over the ears of the listener;

a grommet of resiliently compressible material mounted in each of saidcups and defining a socket therein for receiving the end of one of saidtubes with a snug friction fit and admitting sound waves from the tubethrough the grommet into the interior of the cup while forming anacoustical seal around the tube, whereby said earpiece may be used witha conventional air-push earphone both to increase the comfort of thelistener and to improve the quality of the sound;

and a lining of acoustically transparent foam material in each of saidcups between the socket therein and the open side of the cup, forimproving the quality of the sound delivered to the listener.

1. In combination with a conventional tubular earphone comprising twoelongated flexible tubes having input ends for connection to a soundsystem for generating sound waves, and separated output end portions ofa predetermined approximate size customarily equipped with detachableear cushions for fitting into the ears of a listener to deliver thesound waves to the listener, an improved acoustical earpiece assembly,comprising: a pair of open-sided hollow cups sized to overlie the earsof the listener and each having an opening generally opposite the openside of the cup and substantially larger than the crosssectional size ofsaid output end portions; a U-shaped headstrap connected at its ends tosaid cups to extend around the head of the listener and hold the cupsover the ears; and grommets of resiliently compressible material fittedsnugly in said openings and defining through passages into the interiorof the cup, said through passages being sized to receive output endportions of said predetermined approximate size with a tight fit and tofrictionally retain said output end portions removably in said grommetswhile providing acoustical seals around said output end portions,whereby the customary ear cushions may be removed from said earphone andthe latter may be plugged into said earpiece to increase the comfort ofthe listener and improve the quality of the sound.
 2. The combinationdefined in claim 1 further including a lining of acousticallytransparent foam material in each of said cups overlying said oPeningand said through passage.
 3. The combination defined in claim 2 in whichsaid linings are sheet foam material in cup-shaped form generallyconforming to the shape of the interiors of the cups.
 4. The combinationdefined in claim 1 in which each grommet is a generally cylindricalinsert having a peripheral groove interfitting with said cup around saidopening.
 5. The combination defined in claim 1 in which each cup has anoutwardly offset portion with a substantially planar wall that isinclined downwardly and inwardly when the earpiece is in place, saidopenings being in said walls and said through passage being positionedto receive said output end portions in outwardly and downwardly inclinedpositions.
 6. For use with a tubular earphone having an input end forconnection to a sound system for generating sound waves, and an outputend portion for delivering such sound waves to a listener, said outputend portion comprising two relatively flexible tubes for extending tothe ears of the listener, an improved acoustical earpiece assemblycomprising: a pair of open-sided, hollow cups sized to overlie the earsof the listener; means joining said cups together as a headset unit forsupporting the cups over the ears of the listener; a grommet ofresiliently compressible material mounted in each of said cups anddefining a socket therein for receiving the end of one of said tubeswith a snug friction fit and admitting sound waves from the tube throughthe grommet into the interior of the cup while forming an acousticalseal around the tube, whereby said earpiece may be used with aconventional air-push earphone both to increase the comfort of thelistener and to improve the quality of the sound; and a lining ofacoustically transparent foam material in each of said cups between thesocket therein and the open side of the cup, for improving the qualityof the sound delivered to the listener.